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World focuses on its 59.5 million refugees

South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia. Nyaman Joak, 35, with 16-month-old Boum at Ethiopia's Pagak entry point, waiting to be registered as a refugee. It took 10 days for Joak to walk here from her home in South Sudan's Upper Nile state. Three of her children died in the fighting, and she doesn't know where her husband is. WFP provides High Energy Biscuits to all new arrivals, along with food distributions at some entry points (including Pagak) and special nutritional supplements to those who are malnourished, including young children like Boum. Copyright: WFP/Lisa Bryant
South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia. Nyaman Joak, 35, with 16-month-old Boum at Ethiopia's Pagak entry point, waiting to be registered as a refugee. It took 10 days for Joak to walk here from her home in South Sudan's Upper Nile state. Three of her children died in the fighting, and she doesn't know where her husband is. WFP provides High Energy Biscuits to all new arrivals, along with food distributions at some entry points (including Pagak) and special nutritional supplements to those who are malnourished, including young children like Boum. Copyright: WFP/Lisa Bryant

A staggering 59.5 million people have been displaced in the world this year – a number last seen at the time of World War II‚ according to the International Organisation for Migration ahead of World Refugee Day on Saturday.

In response‚ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said in a statement on Friday that‚ given that many governments did not welcome migrants and failed in their legal obligation to offer them shelter and protection‚ the organisation was now also focusing on the health and welfare of migrants.

MSF works in three Durban displacements camps providing medical and psychosocial support to migrants displaced by xenophobic violence. “Worryingly‚ 200 refugees remain in the last remaining camp that authorities have confirmed they will close on 30 June‚” the organisation said.

MSF attends to refugees’ needs in Syria‚ Lebanon‚ South Sudan‚ Congo‚ Myanmar‚ Chad‚ Tanzania‚ and Central African Republic.

It is also involved in search and rescue efforts in the Mediterranean Sea where‚ since January‚ more than 100‚000 asylum seekers have tried to reach Europe and‚ in the first five months of 2015‚ more than 1‚800 died in the boats.

www.msf.org.za

 

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